Spectral properties and mechanism of instability of nanoengineered silver blocks.

The instability of silver nanoblocks under atmospheric conditions is investigated. The localized surface plasmon resonance band of the silver nanoblocks shows a red shift, broadening, and damping with increasing storage time under atmospheric conditions. The change in spectral properties of silver nanoblocks is considered to be due to sulfidation of silver and structural breakage of silver nanoblock based on scanning electron microscope observation and numerical simulation. The effect of aspect ratio of silver nanoblocks on the change in spectral properties of the nanoengineered silver blocks is also discussed.